The narrator describes various encounters with bright lights in the sky that remind him of a person he loves. He expresses a desire for their name to be shining brightly like a star and encourages them to speak from the heart without fear.

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Meaning of "Tell It To Your Heart" by Lou Reed


"Tell It To Your Heart" by Lou Reed seems to delve into the theme of unrequited love or unexpressed feelings. The narrator sees bright lights in the sky that remind him of the person he loves, yet they are depicted as distant and unreachable, much like the stars. The longing for this person to express their emotions is evident in the repeated plea to "tell it to your heart." The mention of being on the roof at 5 a.m. unable to sleep and the desire to wake the person up before the light disappears could symbolize a sense of urgency in wanting to share one's feelings before it's too late. The juxtaposition of the bright lights and the dark streets, as well as the comparison of the person's name to beaming from satellites or billboards, suggests a yearning for their affection and attention to be boldly displayed and reciprocated. Overall, the song captures the bittersweet essence of unspoken love and the hope for it to be acknowledged.